Birds Scythes And Combines

Table of contents

Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2014 While few detailed surveys of fauna or flora exist in England from the period before the nineteenth century, it is possible to combine the evidence of historical sources (ranging from game books, diaries, churchwardens' accounts and even folk songs) and our wider knowledge of past land use and landscape, with contemporary analyses made by modern natural scientists, in order to model the situation at various times and places in the more remote past. This timely volume encompasses both rural and urban environments from 1650 to the mid-twentieth century, drawing on a wide variety of social, historical and ecological sources. It examines the impact of social and economic organisation on the English landscape, biodiversity, the agricultural revolution, landed estates, the coming of large-scale industry and the growth of towns and suburbs. It also develops an original perspective on the complexity and ambiguity of man/animal relationships in this post-medieval period.

This volume brings together the best of T. C. Smout's recent articles and contributions to books and journals on the topic of environmental history.

The County Avifaunas are a growing series of books, each of which gives details of the status and range of every species on the county list, with a detailed breakdown of rarity records. Each has introductory sections describing the county's ecology and habitats, climate, ornithological history and conservation record. This new avifauna covers Leicestershire and neighbouring Rutland, an area with a particularly strong birding tradition - the Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society is one of the largest county bird clubs in Britain. The region holds some of England's most important inland reservoirs, including the largest, Rutland Water. This massive lake holds some 10,000 wintering birds of a variety of species each year, and has an impressive rarity list as well as some of England's few breeding Ospreys. The county also has important woodlands, gull roosts and river habitats. Rutland Water is the home of the British Birdwatching Fair, the most important trade fair in the birding calendar.

A landmark book that charts humanity's changing relationship with birds - from the ancient Egyptians to the twenty-first century 'A marvellously original slice of social history' Daily Mail 'The facts and folklore of birdlife are dissected in admirable detail in this handsome book' Sunday Times 'Roy and Lesley Adkins are masters of their craft' BBC Countryfile Magazine No other group of animals has had such a complex and lengthy relationship with humankind as birds. They have been kept in cages as pets, taught to speak and displayed as trophies. More practically, they have been used to tell the time, predict the weather, foretell marriages, provide unlikely cures for ailments, convey messages and warn of poisonous gases. When There Were Birds is a social history of Britain that charts the complex connections between people and birds, set against a background of changes in the landscape and evolving tastes, beliefs and behaviours. It draws together many disparate, forgotten strands to present a story that is an intriguing and unexpectedly significant part of our heritage.

Synthesises important concepts, patterns and issues relating to avian habitat selection, drawing on examples from Europe, North America and Australia.

This book explores the place of birds in Roman myth and everyday life, focusing primarily on the transitional period of 100 BCE to 100 CE within the Italian peninsula. A diverse range of topics is considered in order to build a broad overview of the subject. Beginning with an appraisal of omens, augury, and auspices – including the ‘sacred chickens’ consulted by generals before battle – it goes on to examine how Romans farmed birds, hunted them, and kept them as pets. It demonstrates how the ownership and consumption of birds were used to communicate status and prestige, and how bird consumption mirrored wider economic and social trends. Each topic adopts an interdisciplinary approach, considering literary evidence alongside art, material culture, zooarchaeology, and modern ornithological knowledge. The inclusion of zooarchaeology adds another dimension to the work and highlights the value of using animals and faunal remains to interpret the past. Studying the Roman view of birds offers great insight into how they conceived of their relationship with the gods and how they stratified and organised their society. This book is a valuable resource for bird lovers and researchers alike, particularly those studying animals in the ancient world.

An integration of ornithological and archaeological evidence on the history, composition and balance of the bird fauna of the British Isles. It provides essential background information for the debate on extinction, conservation and reintroduction.